Locking-nut.



W. SGHUM.

LOOKING NUT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

1 y 7 1 Hil m: 12 I I J y I 0/) Z0 7 ag wammffw W "I v WILLIAM SCHUM, onNEW YORK, N. Y.

"Looms-NUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed February 26, 1913. Serial No. 750,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SoHUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking-Nuts, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to locking nuts, and is particularly directed toimprovements whereby the nut or equivalent rotatable member is firmlysecured against'accidental rotation.

In accordance with my invention, an externally threaded bolt, axle orthe like, is provided with a recess or slot passing transversely throughthe threaded portion thereof, which recess or slot is preferably veryshort as compared with the length of the threaded portion. Within therecess or slot is disposed a longitudinally movable locking memberhaving its opposite ends similarly threaded. The locking member ismovable longitudinally in the slot, so that in one position, its threadscoincide with the eX- ternal threads, and in another position they aredisplaced and thereby effect the, look by preventing relative rotationbetween the exteriorly and interiorly threaded members. Thelockingmember is moved to locking position by a spring, ,and to unlockingposition by a set screw or the like. The nut or interiorly threadedmember is longitudinally slotted at diametrical points, whereby thelocking element is permitted to be moved from unlocking to lockingposit-ion, or vice versa, under action of the set screw and spring,respectively.

In accordance with my invention, the tensile, bending and shearingstrength of the bolt, axle or the like, is substantially unimpairednotwithstanding the recess for the locking member; furthermore, nospecial or additional means is necessary for holding the locking memberwithin the recess or slot, since the spring serves also to support thelocking element in position. The recess for the locking member ispreferably positioned so that the nut when in final position willcompletely inclose the locking member;

whereby, upon sealing the opening into which the set screw is tapped,protection is secured against meddling by unauthorized parties.

Further objects and features of my invention will be understood from thefollowing description, and from the accompanying drawings, in whichFigures 1 and 2 show a bolt and nut embodying my invention; Figs. 3 and4 are sectional elevations of the bolt of Fig. 1, showing the lockingmember in unlocked and locked positions, respectively; Fig. '5 shows alag screw embodying my invention; and Fig. 6 indicates a rail secured bylag screws embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the exteriorly threaded member 1 is threadedat one end to receive the interiorly threaded member 2. At a pointintermediate the ends of the threaded portion of member 1 is drilled orbored a squared recess 3 in which-is disposedthe locking element 4 ofless width than'the width of the recess 3. The pitch of the thread atends 5,6 is the same as the pitch of the thread of the member 1. The setscrew 7 is threaded in thebore 8, shown as passing centrally therein;the set screw may be of a length slightly greater than the length of thebore 8. The spring 9 is disposed in the bore 10, on the opposite side ofrecess 3 from the bore 8. Normally, the spring 9 forces the lockingelement 4 so that the opposite ends 5, 6 are out of register with thethreads of the bolt. WVhen the set screw 7 is turned suflicientlyto movethe locking to its other limiting.v position, the thread of the ends 5,6 are then in register with the exterior thread, and the interiorlythreaded member may now be moved to any desired relative positionwithout interference by the locking element. It will be noted that whenthe member 2 is in position and the set screw 7 released, or withdrawnout of the bore 8, the locking element 4 will be forced under action ofthe spring 9 to its locking position upon relative rotation, so that oneset of recesses 11, 12 are in alinement with the locking element 4. Themember 2 is shown provided with two sets 11, 12 of diametricallydisposed recesses corresponding in width to 'the width of the lockingelement 4; however,

one or three or more sets may be provided, as will be understood.

When the exteriorly threaded member is made of cast material, the recessor slot may be formed while casting; orthe recess may be cut bydrilling, or the like. Preferably; the locking element is made of highlytempered iron or steel, and the spring is preferablya. spiral of hardtempered steel. It

melted-lead, or the like. This feature of my invention is advantageousfor fastenings employed in the construction of bridges,

locomotives, railroad cars, railroad tracks,

and other iron structures, etc. .As-will be clear from the above, myinvention is also applicable for lockfing the wheels on the axles ofautomobiles, wagons, etc.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated an exteriorly threaded member formed as a lagscrew 14 provided with the locking element 15 disposed adjacent the headof the screw, with a spring 16 and set screw 17 arranged similarlyasdescribedabove. The head of the lag screw 14' is providedwith anexterior thread for receiving an interiorly threaded member havingdiametrically disposed recesses corresponding to the dimensions of thelocking element 15, as will be clear from the above description. Thisform of my invention is particularly applicable as a substitute forspikes employed for securing rails to ties in the construction of arailroad track, as indicated in Fig. 6; in this Fig. 6 I illustrate therail 16 held by stationary members 17 having extended heads 18 and lowerprojections 19 for holding the lower flange of the rail 16. As shown,the members 1'? are secured by lag screws 14 to succeeding wood ties 20on alternate sides of the ra1l. In this form, the

screw 14 is more conveniently turned relatively to the stationarymember.

The location and dimension of the transverse recess 3 may be chosen so'that the member 2 when in final or tightened position will inclose thelocking member 4:,and

accordingly by sealing the bore 8, as described, the locking-parts willbe protected exteriorly and interiorly, from being tam-v pered with. i

It will be seen that .my invention is simple in construction, andsecures the members against rotation by means of an interiorly disposedor self-contained locking arrange ment, and at the same time retainingthe original strength of the fastening;

It will be understoodthat various changes and modifications may be madewithout de parting from my invention within the scope of the'appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an exteriorly threadedfmember having a recessintermedimeans disposed in said recess, said locking means being movablewithin said recess longitudinally of the threaded member, aspring seatedwithin the threaded member for moving said locking means toward one endof said threaded member to locked position, a longitudinally movableelement disposed in a bore in said externally threaded member forholding said locking means in unlocked position, and a longitudinallyslotted interiorly threaded member permitting said locking means to moveto locked position under action of said spring at a predeter-' minedposition of said members when said longitudinally movable element iswithdrawn. 1 v

2. The combination with an exteriorly threaded member having atransverse recess intermediate the threaded portion thereof, of alocking element disposed in said recess and threaded to correspond tothe thread of said threaded member, said locking element being movablewithin said recess longitudinally of the threaded member, a springdisposed on one side of said lockingelement, a set screw tapped in thethreaded member on the opposite side of said locking element, and v alongitudinally slotted interiorly threaded member permitting movement ofsaid locking member at predeterminedpositions of saidthreaded members.

3. The combination with an exteriorly threaded member having a recesspassing transversely through the threaded portion thereof, of a lockingelementmovable in said recess and having threaded ends of the same pitchas the thread of the threaded member, an interiorly threaded memberhaving diametrical slots correspondlng to the ends of said; lockingelement, a spring disposed in a longitudinal recess in the exteriorlythreaded member on one side of said transverse recess, said-springservin to support said locking element within sai transverse recess, andaxially movable means for moving said locking element against the actionof said springfsaid means passing through a longitudinal recess in saidexteriorlyithreaded member on the side of said transverse recessopposite to said first-named longitudinal recess.

4. The combination of an exteriorly" threaded member having a recesspassing transversely through the threaded portion v thereof intermediateits ends, an interiorly threaded member of greaterthickness than' theaxial length of said recess, a locking member axially movable in saidrecess, sai

exteriorly threaded member having a recess through which to control saidlocking member.

'5. The combination, with an exteriorly threaded member having a recesspassing transversely through they threaded portionthereof, of ,a lockingelement disposed in said recess and having threaded ends corre-' calslots corresponding to the ends of said sponding to the thread of saidthreaded locking element, the thickness of said latter member, saidlocking element being movmember being greater than the axial length ablewithin said recess longitudinally of the of said locking element.

5 threaded member, a 5 ring disposed on one In testimony whereof I aifixmy signa 15 side of said locking e ement, an axial bore ture in presenceof two witnesses.

' in the threaded member on the opposite side WILLIAM SCHUM. of saidlocking element through which to 'Wit-nesses: I control said-locking-member, and an in- HENRY J. LUcKE,

10 teriorly threaded member having diametriv G120. N. KERR.

